JB.^SJ?'i!tf      s* 


Alexajider  Cam-Dbell 


An  aiialvsis   of  the 
Book  of  Mormon 


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AN  ANALYSIS 

OF  THE 

BOOK  OF  MORMON; 

WITH  AN 

EXAMINATION  OF  ITS  INTERNAL  AND  EXTERNAL;  EVI- 
DENCES, AND  A  REFUTATION  OF  ITS  PRETENCES 
TO  DIVINE  AUTHORITY. 


BY  ALEXANDER^AMPBELL, 


WITH 

PREFACTORY  NOTES 

BY  JOSHUA  V.  HIMES 


BOSTON: 

BENJAMIN  H.  GREENE. 

1832. 


After  the  publication  of  the  Book  of  Mormon  in  1830  "Delusions,"  by  Alexander 
Campbell,  was  the  first  work  to  appear  in  an  endeavor  to  discredit  the  clain  to  Divine 
origiaal  This  is  a  line  for  line  and  page  for  page  reprint  of  the  scarce  original  pamphlet. 
It  is  reprinted  verbatiKi  even  to  the  typographical  errors. 


Reprinted  1925 

MORGAN-BRUCE  BOOK  CO. 

Salt  Lake  City.  Utah 


I*  K  L  L'  S  I  O  X  fS."  ^40^■  14  IfeiS 

AN  ANALYSIS 


OF  THE 


BOOK  OF  MORMON; 


WITH  AX 


EXAMINATION  OF  ITS  INTERNAL  AND  EXTERNAL  EVI- 
DENCES. AND  A  REFUTATION  OF  ITS  PRETENCES 
TO  DIVINE  AUTHORITY. 


BY  ALEXANDER 'CAMPBELL 


WITH 

PREFACTORY  NOTES 

BY  JOSHUA  V.  HEMES 


BOSTON: 
BENJAMIN  H.  GREENE. 

1832. 


WAITT  AND  DOWS  PRESS. 


PREFACTORY  REMARKS. 


It  is  well  known  to  some  of  our  fellow-cilizens,  that  two  preach- 
ers of  the  Mormonites,  a  fanatical  sect,  which  originated  a  few  years 
since  in  tlie  western  part  of  New  York,  have  recently  come  to  this 
city  lo  propagate  their  strange  and  marvellous  doctrines. 

I  have  had  several  interviews  ^\ith  ihesc  men.  and  have  examined 
their  book,  called  the  'Book  of  Mormon,'  have  endeavored  to  ac- 
quaint myself  with  the  details  of  their  history  and  principles,  have 
put  the  result  of  my  inquiries  in  writing,  and  am  satisfied  of  the  de- 
lusion and  absurdity  of  their  system,  and  of  its  evil  tendency. 

After  tiiis  investigation,  I  felt  a  desire  to  have  the  system  exposed, 
immediately  in  public  print.  But  upon  consulting  with  some  judi- 
cious friends  upon  the  subject,  it  was  thought  best  not  to  take  public 
notice  of  it  at  that  time,  as  the  system  was  so  unreasonable  and  ri- 
diculous, that  no  person  of  good  common  sense  would  believe  it. 
But  having  witnessed  the  progress  of  the  delusion  among  some  of  our 
respectable  citizens,  some  of  whom  were  considered  worthy  members 
of  the  religious  societies  to  which  they  belonged.  I  have  felt  it  my 
indispensable  duty,  to  use  my  exertion  against  its  spreading  and  con- 
laminating  influence. 

However  strange  to  relate,  about  fifteen  persons,  in  this  city  have 
hecn  led  away  by  these  false  doctrines,  have  been  baptised  and  joined 
the  Mormon  church.  And  some  of  these  persons  have  set  out  for  the 
promised  land,  the  place  of  refuge  for  the  house  of  Israel,  and  for  all 
the  Gentile  world,  who  will  take  warning  and  flee  thither  for  safety.* 
Two  individuals  who  have  gone,  are  defenseless  females.  They  had 
acquired  by  their  hard  industry  S2300,  one  of  them  having  $800, 
the  oth^r  S1500  which  they  have  given  up  to  go  into  the  general 
stock.  One  of  these  females  was  in  a  consumption,  and  her  friends 
thought  she  v»ould  not  live  to  reach  her  destined  place.  Her  affiicl- 
cd  sister  told  me.  that  if  she  had  been  buried  here,  before  she  had 
been  led  away  by  these  errors  and  had  left  satisfactory  evidence  that 
she  was  prepared  to  die,  her  grief  would  have  been  far  less  than  it  is 
now.  The  remaining  persons  who  were  baptised  and  joined  the 
church,  and  contemplate  going  to  the  west,  possess  between  $3000 
and  $1000.  whi' h  they  also  are  going  to  put  with  the  general  fund. 

*Thi^-  place  is  situated  in  Jackson  county,  Missouri,  ten  mile?  from  the  town 
cf   In-lepen  'ence. 


I 

and  which  they  can  never  draw  out  again,  should  they  get  sick  of 
Mormonism  and  wish  to  return  home  to  their  friends. 

Thus  are  our  friends  swindled  out  of  their  property  and  drawn 
from  their  comfortai)le  homes,  to  endure  the  perils  of  a  journey 
about  two  thousand  miles,  by  these  ignorant  fanatics;  and  when  ar- 
rived at  their  earthly  paradise,  to  become  the  miserable  dupes  of 
these  temporal  and  spiritual  lords. 

In  view  of  these  evils,  and  after  waiting  impatiently  for  some  time, 
hoping  that  some  person  better  qualified  than  myself  to  do  justice  to 
the  subject,  would  undertake  it;  but  not  hearing  of  any,  I  had  con- 
cluded to  publish  the  result  of  my  inquiries  of  these  men,  with  some 
strictures  upon  their  book.  But  at  this  time  I  was  informed  by  a 
friend,  that  a  faithful  review  of  the  book  had  been  published  by  one 
of  the  most  able  writers  in  our  country.  1  immediately  sent  600 
miles  for  the  review,  and  have  received  and  perused  it.  In  my  ap- 
prehension it  is  the  best  thing  that  can  be  written  upon  the  subject, 
and  will  be  of  inestimable  use  in  preventing  and  rescuing  many  from 
the  evils  of  Mormonism. 

This  review  of  Mr.  Campbell  came  out  first  in  the  ^Millennial 
Harbinger,'  a  monthly  periodical  published  by  him  in  Bethany,  Vir- 
ginia, under  date  of  February  7th,  1831.  This  work  is  but  little 
known  to  that  class  of  persons  whom  1  design  to  benefit.  My  object, 
therefore,  in  publishing  it  in  a  pamphlet  by  itself,  is  to  circulate  it 
among  the  people  of  New  England,*  that  they  may  receive  tlie  same 
benefit  that  the  people  of  the  south  and  west  have,  where  the  above 
periodical  is  extensively  circulated.  And  I  doubt  not  that  its  gifted 
author  would  not  only  be  willing,  but  much  gratified,  in  having  it 
thus  republished  and  circulated. 

And  with  sympathetic  feelings  for  those  friends  who  have  been 
grieved  and  afflicted  in  consequence  of  the  delusion,  and  to  prevent 
others  from  similar  trials  in  future,  by  having  their  friends  torn  from 
their  embraces,  and  swindled  out  of  their  property,  and  if  possible,  to 
prevent  others  from  becoming  the  miserable  subjects  and  dupes  of 
these  singular  fanatics,  I  have  determined  to  republish  this  review  of 
Mr.  Campbell,  with  these  prefatory  remarks;  and  would  recommend 
the  review  to  the  perusal  of  my  fellow  citizens,  and  an  enlightened 
public. 

JOSHUA  V.  HIMES. 

Boston.  Aug.  14,  1832. 


'These  preachers  inteiitl  visiting  the  cities  and  principal  town:*  in  Neu'  Englan>l. 


DELusioisrs. 


Every  age  of  the  world  has  produced  impostors  and  delusions.  Jannes  and 
Jambres  withstood  Moses,  and  were  followed  by  Pharaoh,  his  court,  and  cler- 
gy. They  for  some  time  supported  their  pretensions,  much  to  the  annoyance 
of  the  cause  of  the  Israelites  and  their  leader  Moses. 

To  say  nothing  of  the  false  prophets  of  the  Jewish  age,  the  diviners,  sooth- 
sayers, magicians,  and  all  the  ministry  of  idols  among  the  Gentiles,  by  which 
the  nations  were  so  often  deceived,  the  impostors  which  have  appeared  since 
the  Christian  era  would  fill  volumes  of  the  most  lamentable  details  ever  read. 
The  false  Messiahs  which  have  afflicted  the  Jews  since  the  rejection  of  Jesus 
of  Nazareth,  have  more  than  verified  all  the  predictions  of  the  Faithful  and 
True  Witness.  No  less  than  twenty-four  distinguished  false  Messiahs  have  dis- 
turbed the  Jews.  Many  were  deceived,  and  myriads  lost  their  lives  through 
their  impostures.  Some  peculiar  epochs  were  distinguished  for  the  number 
and  impudence  of  these  impostors.  If  the  people  had  fixed  upon  any  years 
as  likely  to  terminate  their  dispersions,  and  as  the  period  of  their  return,  that 
year  rarely  failed  to  produce  a  Messiah.  Hence  in  the  twelfth  century  no  less 
than   ten   false   Messiahs  appeared. 

The  year  1666,  was  a  year  of  great  expectation,  and  gave  birth  to  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  of  the  false  Christs.  'Great  multitudes  marched  from  un- 
known parts,  to  the  remote  deserts  of  Arabia,  and  they  were  supposed  to  be  the 
ten  tribes  of  Israel,  who  had  been  dispersed  for  many  ages.  It  was  said  that 
a  ship  was  arrived  in  the  north  part  of  Scotland,  with  sails  and  cordage  of  silk, 
that  the  mariners  spoke  nothing  but  Hebrew,  and  on  the  sails  was  this  motto; 
'The  Twelve  Tribes  of  Israel.'  Then  it  was  that  Sabati  Levi  appeared  at 
Smyrna  and  professed  to  be  the  Messiah.  The  Jews  gave  up  their  business 
and  attended  to  him.  He  obtained  one  Nathan  in  Jerusalem  to  pass  for  his 
Elias,  or  forerunner.  Nathan  prophesied  for  him,  and  the  Jews  became  ver> 
penitent,  and  reformed  under  the  expectation  that  the  Messiah  would  appear  in 
two  years.  'Some  fasted  so  long  that  they  died — some  endured  melted  wax  to 
be  dropped  on  their  flesh — some  rolled  in  snow — many  whipped  themselves. 
Superfluities  in  dress  and  household  were  dispensed  with;  property  was  sold 
to  large  amounts,  and  immense  contributions  were  made  to  the  poor.  Though 
he  met  with  much  opposition,  his  followers  increased,  and  began  in  large  num- 
bers to  prophesy  and  fall  into  ecstacies.  Four  hundred  men  and  women  proph 
esied  of  his  growing  kingdom,  and  >oung  infants  who  could  hardly  speak, 
would  plainly  pronounce  **Sabati,  Messiah,  and  son  of  God."  The  people 
were  for  a  time  possessed,  and  voices  were  heard  from  their  bowels.  Some 
fell  into  trances,  foamed  at  the  mouth,  recounted  their  future  prosperity,  their  vi 
sions  of  the  Lion  of  Judah,  the  triumphs  of  Sabati.' 

'When  he  was  brought  before  the  magistrates,  some  affirmed  they  saw  a  pil- 
lar of  fire  between  him  and  the  Cadi  or  Magistrates,  and  others  actually  swore 
that  they  saw  it.  This  the  credulous  Jews  believed;  those  who  would  not  be- 
lieve in  him,  were  shunned  as  excommunicated  persons,  and  all  intercourse 
with  them  prohibited. 

'The  Grand  Seignor.  determined  to  try  his  faith  by  stripping  him  naked  and 


setting  him  a  mark  for  his  archers;  but  rather  than  subject  himself  to  this  test, 
he  turned  Mahometan,  to  the  great  confusion  of  the  Jews.'  'We  have  been 
thus  particular  in  giving  a  view,  of  the  incidents  of  the  life  of  this  impostor,  as 
a  specimen  of  the  others;  and  because  of  some  remarkable  analogies  between 
him  and  the  present  New  York  impostor. 

Numerous  have  been  the  impostors  among  christians  since  the  great  apostacy 
began;  especially  since,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Refoimation.  iMunzer,  Stubner 
and  Stork,  were  conspicuous  in  the  beginning  of  the  16th  century.'  These  men 
taught  that  among  christians,  who  had  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel  to  guide  them, 
and  the  spirit  of  God  to  direct  them,  the  office  of  magistracy  was  not  only  un- 
necessary, but  an  unlawful  encroachment  on  their  spiritual  liberty;  that  the  dis- 
tinctions occasioned  by  birth,  rank,  or  wealth,  should  be  abolished;  that  all 
christians  should  put  their  possessions  into  one  common  stock,  and  live  togeth- 
er in  that  state  of  equality,  which  becomes  members  of  the  same  family,  an  I 
the  polygamy  was  not  incompatible  with  either  the  Old  or  New  Testament. 

They  related  many  visions  and  revelations  which  they  had  from  above,  bul 
failing  to  propagate  their  views  by  these  means,  they  attempted  to  propaga'K' 
them  by  arms.  Many  Catholics  joined  them,  and  in  the  various  insurrections 
which  they  effected,  100,000  souls  are  said  to  have  been  sacrificed. 

Since  the  Millennium  and  the  evils  of  sectarianism  have  been  the  subjects  ol 
much  speaking  and  writing,  impostors  have  been  numerous.  In  the  memory  ol 
the  present  generation,  many  delusions  have  been  propagated  and  receive  ". 
The  shakers,  a  sect  instituted  by  Anna  Lesse,  in  1774,  have  not  yet  quite 
dwindled  away.  This  elect  Lady,  as  they  style  her,  was  the  head  of  this  partv. 
and  gave  them  a  new  bible.  'They  assert  that  she  spoke  sevent  -two  'an- 
guages,  and  conversed  with  the  dead.  Through  her  all  blessings  flow  to  her  fol 
lowers— she  appointed  the  sacred  dance  and  the  fantastic  song,  an  I  consecrated 
shivering,  swooning  and  falling  down,  acts  of  acceptable  devotion.  They  are 
for  a  common  stock,  and  rank  marriage  among  the  works  of  the  flesh.— they  ax- 
plain  in  their  apparel,  and  assume  the  aspect  of  the  friars  and  nuns  of  r'atholi>- 
superstition.' 

The  Barkers,  Jumpers,  and  Mutterers  of  the  present  age,  need  not  he  men 
tioned  here.  Nor  need  we  detail  the  history  of  Miss  Campbell,  who  in  good 
Old  Scotland  a  year  or  two  since  came  back  from  the  dead  and  had  the  gift  of 
tongues,  who  was  believed  in  by  several  minist-ers  of  the  Scotch  Church.  But  we 
shall  proceed  to  notice  the  most  recent  and  the  most  impudent  delusion  which 
has  appeared  in  our  time.^  The  people  that  have  received  this  impostu  e  are 
called.  The  MoRMOMTEsfT'have  just  examined  their  bible,  and  will  first  notice 
its  contents.  It  is  called  the  'Book  of  Mormon,'  an  account  written  by  the  hand 
of  Mormon  upon  plates  taken  from  the  plates  of  Nephi,  wherefore  it  is  an 
abridgement  of  the  record  of  the  people  of  Nephi,  and  also  of  the  Lamantles. 
written  to  the  Lamanites  which  are  a  remnant  of  the  House  of  I?;ael.  and  also 
to  Jew  an  i;Gentile.  Written  by  way  of  commandment  ,and  also  liy  the  s|>irit  of 
prophecy  and  of  Revelation.' — 'By  Joseph  Smith,  Junior,  Author  and  pro- 
prietor. From  plates  dug  out  of  the  earth,  in  the  township  of  Manchester.  On- 
tario. New  York. — Palmyra,  printed  by  E.  B.  Grandin.  for  the  Author.  1830. 
It  is  a  collection  of  books  said  to  have  been  written  by  different  |)e  sons  du.injj 
the  interval  of  1020  years— The  1st  and  second  books  of  Nephi  occuov  122 
pages;  the  Book  of  Jacob  the  brother  of  Nephi  occupies  21:  that  of  Enos  8;  that 
of  Jarom  2;  that  of  Omin  4;  the  words  of  Mormon  3;  the  books  of  Mos;ah.68; 
that  of  Alma  186  that  of  Helaman  44  that  of  Nephi  the  son  of  Helaman  66; 
that  of  Mormon.  20;  that  of  Esther  35;  and  that  <  f  Morom  14  pages;  making 
in  all  588  octavo  pages. 

This  romance — but  this  is  for  it  a  name  too  innocent— begins  with  the  reli 
gious  adventures  of  one  Lehi,  whose  wife  was  Sariah,  and  their  four  sons.  La- 
man.  Lemuel,  Sam,  and  Nephi.  Lehi  lived  in  Jerusalem  all  his  life,  up  to  the  first 
year  of  Zedekiah,  King  of  Juciah.  and  when  the  prophets  appeared  foietelling 
the  utter  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  Lehi  humbled  himself,  and  after  variou- 
visions  and  revelations,  started  with  his  sons  into  the  wilderness.  Lelii,  before 
his  dejiartute.  forgot  to   bring  with  him  the  records,  of  his  faniih.  and  that  of 


the  Jews;  but  Nephi,  his  younger  son,  with  much  pious  courage  returned  and 
succeeded  in  getting  upon  plates  of  brass  the  records  of  the  Jews  from  the 
creation  down  to  the  first  year  of  Zedekiah,  King  of  Judah,  and  also  the  proph- 
ets  including  many  prophecies  delivereed   by  Jeremiah. 

From  the  records  it  appeared  that  this  Lehi  was  a  son  of  Joseph.  He  pre- 
vailed  on  one  Ishraael  and  his  family  to  accompany  him  into  the  wilderness, 
whose  daughters  the  sons  of  Lehi  took  for  wives. 

Lehi  was  a  greater  prophet  than  any  of  the  Jewish  prophets,  and  uttered 
all  the  events  of  the  christian  era,  and  developed  the  records  of  Matthew, 
Luke,  and  John,  six  hundred  years  before  John  the  baptist  was  born. — These 
pilgrims  travelled  several  days  journey  in  some  wilderness,  'a  south,  south-east 
direction,  along  the  borders  of  the  Red  Sea.  A  ball  with  pointers  on  it,  in- 
scribed with  various  intelligence,  legible  at  proper  times,  was  the  pillar  and  in- 
dex in  passing  through  the  wilderness  for  many,  very  many  days.  By  their 
bow  and  arrow  they  lived  for  eight  years,  travelling  an  easterly  course  from 
Jerusalem,  until  they  came  to  a  great  sea.  By  divine  revelation  Nephi  con- 
structed a  ship,  and  although  opposed  by  his  unbelieving  brethren,  being  great- 
ly assisted  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  he  succeeJed  in  lauching  her  safely,  and  got  all 
his  tribe,  with  their  stock  of  seeds,  animals,  and  provisions,  safely  aboard. 
They  had  'a  compass  which  none  but  Nephi  knew  how  to  manage;  but  the 
Lord  had  promised  them  a  fine  land,  and  after  many  perils  and  trials,  and  a 
long  passage,  they  safely  arrived  at  the  land  of  promise.  Nephi  made  brazen 
plates  soon  after  his  arrival  in  America,  for  that  was  the  land  of  promise  to 
them,  and  on  these  plates  he  marked  their  peregrinations  and  adventures,  and 
all  the  prophecies  which  God  gave  to  him  concerning  the  future  destinies  of 
his  people,  and  the   human   race. 

After  his  father's  death,  his  brethren  rebelled  against  him.  They  finally  sep- 
arated in  the  wildereness,  and  became  the  heads  of  different  tribes,  often  in  the 
lapse  of  generations  making  incurations  upon  each  other.  The  Nephites,  like 
their  father,  for  many  generations  were  good  christians,  believers  in  the  doc- 
triens  of  the  Calvinists  and  Methodists,  and  preaching  baptism  and  other  chris- 
tian usages  hundreds  of  years  before  Jesus  Christ  was  born! 

Before  Nephi  died,  which  was  about  fifty-five  years  from  the  flight  of  Lehi 
from  Jerusalem,  he  had  preached  to  his  people  every  thing  which  is  now 
preached  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and  anointed  or  ordained  his  brother 
Jacob  priest  over  his  people,  called  the  Nephites,  Jacob  brought  up  his  son 
Enos  'in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,'  gave  him  the  plates,  and 
left  him  successor  in  office  over  the  people  of  Nephi.  Enos  says  'there 
came  a  voice  to  me  saying,  Enos  thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee,  and  thou 
shalt  be  blessed.  And,  I  sayeth,  Lord  how  it  is  done.  And  he  sayeth  unto 
me.  Because  of  thy  faith  in  Christ,  whom  thou  hast  not  heard  nor  seen.'  p. 
143.  Enos  died  one  hundred  seventy-nine  years  from  the  hegira  of  Lehi; 
consequently,  this  happened  four  hundred  thirty-one  years  before  Jesus  Christ 
was  born.  He  was  a  contemporary  with  Nehemiar,  and  may  we  not  say 
how  much  wiser  and  more  enlightened  were  the  Nephites  in  America  than 
the  Jews  at  their  return  to  Jerusalem! 

Enos  gave  the  plates  to  Jarom,  his  son.  In  his  time  'they  kept  the  law  of 
Moses  and  the  sabbath  day  holy  to  the  Lord.'  During  the  priesthood  and 
reign  of  Enos,  there  were  many  commotions  and  wars  between  his  people 
and  the  Lamanites.  Then  the  sharp  pointed  arrow,  the  quiver,  and  the  dart 
were  invented.  Jarom  delivered  his  plates  to  his  son  Omni,  and  gave  up  the 
ghost  two  hundred  thirty-eight  years  from  the  flight  of  Lehi,  Omni  died  two 
hundred  seventy-six  from  the  hegira,  and  gave  the  plates  to  his  son  Amaron, 
who  in  the  year  three  hundred  and  twenty,  gave  them  to  his  brother  Chemish; 
he,  to  his  son  Abinadom;  he  to  his  son  Amaleki;  and  he  having  no  son,  gave 
them  to  the  just  and  pious  King  Benjamin.  King  Benjamin  had  three  sons. 
Mosiah,  Heloium,  and  Helaman,  whom  he  educated  in  all  the  learning  of  his 
fathers.  To  Mosiah  he  delivered  up  the  plates  of  Nephi,  the  ball  which  guid- 
ed them  through  the  wilderness,  and  the  swor.l  of  one  Laban,  of  mighty  re- 
n.iwn.     King    Benjamin    addressed    his    people    from    the    new    temple    which 


8 

they  had  erected,  for  they  had,  even  then,  built  a  temple,  synagogues,  and  a 
tower,  in  the  New  World. 

King  Benjamin  assembled  the  people  to  sacrifice  according  to  the  la%v 
around  the  new  temple;  and  he  enjoined  upon  them,  at  the  same  time,  the 
christian  institutions,  and  gave  them  a  Patriarchal  valedictory.  After  they  had 
heard  him  speak  and  had  offered  up  their  sacrifices,  they  fell  down  and  pray- 
ed in  the  following  words:  '0  have  mercy,  and  apply  the  atoning  blood  of 
Christ,  that  we  may  receive  forgiveness  of  our  sins,  and  our  hearts  may  be  pu- 
rified; for  we  believe  in  Jesus  Christ  the  son  of  God,  who  created  heaven  and 
earth  and  all  things,  who  shall  come  down  among  the  children  of  men.'  Then 
the  spirit  of  the  Lord  fell  upon  them  and  they  were  filled  with  joy.  having  re 
ceived  a  remission  of  their  sins.'  p.  162. 

King  Benjamin  ordered  his  people  to  take  upon  them  the  name  of  Christ, 
and  in  these  remarkable  words, — 'There  is  no  other  name  given  whereby  sal- 
vation Cometh;  therefore  I  would  that  you  should  take  upon  you  the  name  of 
Christ,  all  you  that  have  etered  into  the  covenant  with  God  that  ye  should  be 
obedient  unto  the  end  of  your  lives. — page  166.  They  all  took  upon  them  the 
name  of  Christ,  and  he  having  ordained  them  priests  and  teachers,  and  ap- 
pointed his  son,  Mosiah.  to  reign  in  his  stead,  gave  up  the  Ghost  476  years  after 
Lehi's  escape  from  Jerusalem,  and  one  hundred  twenty-four  before  Christ  was 
born,  Mosiah  gave  up  the  plates  of  brass,  and  all  the  things  which  we  had  kept, 
to  Ahna  the  son  of  Alma,  who  was  appointed  'chief  judge  and  high  priest,'  the 
people  willing  to  have  no  king,  and  Mosiah  died  five  hundred  sixty-nine  years 
from  the  time  Lehi  left  Jerusalem. 

In  the  14th  year  of  the  Judges,  and  69  years  before  the  birth  of  Jesus,  they 
sent  out  missionary  priests,  who  preached  through  all  the  tribes  of  the  coun- 
try against  all  vices,  holding  'forth  the  coming  of  the  son  of  God,  his  suffer- 
ings, death  and  resurrection,  and  that  he  should  appear  unto  them  after  his 
resurrection :  and  this  the  people  did  hear  with  great  joy  and  gladness.' — p.  268. 
/  Alma's  book  reaches  down  to  the  end  of  the  39th  year  of  the  Judges. 
These  were  wonderful  years — many  cities  were  founded,  many  battles  were 
fought,  fortifications  reared,  letters  written,  and  even  in  one  year  a  certain  Ha- 
goth  built  an  exceedingly  large  ship,  and  launched  it  forth  into  the  west  sea. 
In  this  embarked  many  of  the  Nephites.  This  same  ship-builder  the  next  year 
built  other  ships,  one  was  lost  with  all  its  passengers  and  crew. — p,  406. 

Many  prophecies  were  pronounced;  one  that  in  400  years  after  the  coming  of 
Christ,  the  Nephites  would  lose  their  religion.  During  the  time  of  the  Judges, 
many  were  called  christians  by  name,  and  'baptism  unto  repentance'  was  a 
common  thing.  'And  it  came  to  pass  that  they  did  appoint  priests  and  teachers 
through  all  the  land,  over  all  the  churches. — p.  349.  'And  those  who  did  be- 
long to  the  church  were  faithful,  yea  all  those  who  were  true  believers  in 
Christ  took  upon  them  gladly  the  name  of  Christ,  or  christians,  as  they  were 
called,  because  of  their  belieiP  in  Christ.' — Page  301.  'And  it  came  to  pass  that 
there  were  many  who  died  firmly  believing  that  their  souls  were  redeemed  by 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ:  thus  they  went  out  of  the  world  rejoicing.' — p.  353.  The 
word  was  preached  by  Helaman,  Shiblon,  Corianton,  Amnon,  and  his  brethren. 
&c..  yea  and  all  those  who  had  been  ordained  by  the  holy  order  of  God,  being 
baptized  unto  repentance,  and  sent  forth  to  preach  unto  the  people.'  Page  623. 
This  happened  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  the  judges,  seventy-two  years  befoie 
the  birth  of  Jesus.  Before  this  time  synagogues  with  pulpits  Avere  built,  'for  the 
Zoramites,'  a  sort  of  Episcopalians,  'gathered  themselves  together  on  one  day 
of  the  week,  which  day  they  called  the  day  of  the  Lord.' — 'And  tJiey  had  a 
place  which  was  high  and  lifted  up,  which  held  but  one  man,  who  read  piayers, 
the  same  prayers  every  week;  and  this  high  place  was  called  Rameumpton, 
which  being  interpreted,  is  the  holy  stand.'— p.  311.  The  book  of  Helaman  reach- 
eth  down  to  the  ninetieth  year  of  the  Judges,  and  to  the  year  preceding  that 
in  which  the  Messiah  was  born.  During  the  period  embraced  in  Helaman's 
narrative,  many  ten  thousands  were  baptized.  'And  behold  the  holy  spirit  of 
God  did  come  down  from  heaven,  and  did  enter  into  their  hearts,  and  they 
were  filled  as  with  fire,  and  they  could  speak  forth  marvellous  words.' — p.  421. 


Masonry  was  invented  about  this  time;  for  men  began  to  bind  themselves 
in  secert  oaths  to  aid  one  another  in  all  things,  good  or  evil. — p.  424. 
Powers  of  loosing  and  binding  in  heaven  were  conferred  upon  Nephi,  the  son 
of  Helaman,  and  all  miraculous  power,  such  as  the  apostles  possessed.  One 
Samuel,  also  foretold  that  'the  Christ  would  be  born  in  five  years,  and  that  the 
night  before  should  be  as  light  as  day;  and  that  the  day  of  his  death  should  be 
a  day  of  darkness  like  the  night. — p.  445.  The  book  of  this  Nephi  commences 
with  the  birth  of  the  Messiah,  six  hundred  years  from  the  departure  of  Lehi 
from  Jerusalem.  In  the  midst  of  the  threats,  of  the  infidels  to  slaughter  the 
faithful,  the  sun  set;  but  lo!  the  night  was  as  clear  as  mid-day.  and  from  that 
period  they  changed  their  era,  and  counted  time  as  we  do.  A  star  alse  ap- 
peared, but  it  is  not  stated  how  it  could  be  seen  in  a  night  as^bright  as  day;^ 
but  it  was  universally  seen  throughout  all  the  land,  to  the  salvation  of  the 
pious  from  the  threats  of  their  enemeis*.  The  terrors  of  the  day  of  his  death  are 
also  stated,  and  in  the  thirty-fourth  year  from  his  nativity,  after  his  resurrec- 
tion, he  descended  from  heaven  and  visited  the  people  of  Nephi.  Jesus  called 
upon  them  to  examine  his  hands  and  his  sides,  as  he  did  Thomas,  though  none 
of  them  had  expressed  a  doubt.  Two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  women  and 
children,  one  by  one,  examined  him,  and  then  worshipped  him.  He  com- 
manded Nephi  to  baptize,  and  gave  him  the  words  which  he  was  to  use,  viz: 
'Having  authority  given  me,  of  Jesus  Christ,  I  baptize  you  in  the  name  of  tlie 
Father  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  Amen.'  He  commissioned 
eleven  others,  who  with  Nephi,  were  his  twelve  American  Apostles,  and 
promised  himself  to  maptize  their  converts  'with  fire  and  with  the  Holy  Spirit.* 

He  delivers  them  the  sermon  upon  the  mount,  and  some  other  sayings  re- 
corded in  Matthew,  Mark.  Luke,  and  John;  He  healed  all  their  diseases,  and 
prayed  for  their  children;  but  the  things  spoken  were  so  great  and  marvellous 
that  they  could  not  be  spoken  or  written.' 

He  ordained  one  to  administer  the  supper,  who  alone  had  authority  to  dis- 
pense it  to  the  disciples  baptized  in  his  name.  The  only  new  commandments 
which  were  given  to  the  American  christians  on  his  occasional  visits  which 
were  repeated,  were — 'pray  in  your  families  unto  the  Father,  always  in  my 
name,  that  your  wives  and  your  children  may  be  blessed.'  'Meet  often,  and 
forbid  no  man  from  coming  unto  you  when  you  shall  meet  together.'— p.  492. 

Nephi  was  chief  among  the  twelve  apostles:  he  baptized  himself,  and  then 
baptized  the  eleven,  whose  names  were  Timothy,  Jonas,  Mathoni  and  Matho- 
nihah,  Kumen,  Kumenonhi,  Jeremiah,  Shimmon,  Jonas,  Zedekiah,  and  Isaiah. 
They  were  baptized  in  fire  and  the  Holy  Ghost.'  Not  a  new  word,  however, 
should  be  w^ritten  in  addition  to  those  found  in  the  New  Testament;  for  al- 
though he  spake  for  several  days  lo  these  American  disciples  none  of  the  new 
and  marvellous  sayings  could  be  uttered  or  written!  He  inspected  the  plates 
of  Nephi,  and  only  found  one  omission,  which  was  that  he  had  failed  to  mention 
the  resurrection  of  many  saints  in  America  at  the  time  of  the  tem',)est  and 
earthquake.  He  commanded  these  Nepbites  to  be  called  christians. 

The  book  of  Nephi  the  son  of  Nephi,  gives,  in  four  pages,  the  history  of 
320  years  after  Christ.  In  the  thilrty-sixth  year,  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  land 
were  converted ;  there  was  a  perfect  community  and  no  disputations  in  the  land 
for  one  hundred  seventy  years.  Three  of  the  American  apostles  were  never 
to  die.  nad  were  seen  four  hundred  years  after  Christ ;  but  what  has  bei^ome  of 
them  no  one  can  tell,  except  Cowdrey,  Whitmer  and  Harris,  the  three  witness- 
es of  the  truth  of  the  plates  of  Nephi,  be  these  three  immortal  men.  Towards 
the  close  of  the  history  of  Nephi  or  the  record  Ammaron,  sects  and  divisions 
and  battles  became  frequent,  and  all  goodness  had  almost  left  the  continent  in 
the  year  three  hundred  and  twenty.  ,     r    ,         i    i 

Mormon  appears  next  in  the  drama,  the  recording  angel  of  the  whole  mat- 
ter, who,  by  the  way,  was  a  mighty  general  and  great  christian:  he  command- 
ed in  one  engagement  forty-two  thousand  men  against  the  Lamanites ! . !  He 
was  no  Quaker;  This  dreadful  battle  was  foug^it  A.,  D.  330.  ITie 
Lamanites  took  South  America  for  themselves,  and  gave  North  America 
to  the  Nephites.    Mormon  was  very  orthodox,  for  he  preached  in  these  words. 


10 

A.  D.  362: — 'That  Jesus  was  the  very  Christ  and  the  very  God.'  He  must 
have  heard  of  the  Arian  controversy  by  some  angel ! ! 

Moroni  finishes  what  Mormon  his  father,  left  undone,  and  continues  the  his- 
tory, till  A.  D.  400.  He  pleads  that  no  one  shall  disbelieve  his  record  because 
of  its  imperfections ! !  and  declares  that  none  who  receive  it  will  condemn  it 
on  account  of  its  imperfection,  and  for  not  doing  so,  the  same  shall  know 
greater  things,  p.  532.  'He  that  condemneth  it  shall  be  in  danger  of  hell  fire.' 
He  laments  the  prevalency  of  free  masonry  in  the  times  when  his  books  should 
be  dug  up  out  of  the  earth,  and  proves  that  miracles  will  never  cease;  because 
God  is  the  same  yesterday,  to  day,  and  forever — consequently  must  always 
create  suns,  moons,  and  stars,  every  day! !  He  exhorted  to  'take  heed  that  none 
be  baptized  without  telling  their  experience,  nor  partake  of  the  sacrament  of 
Christ  unworthily.'!! — p.  537.  Moroni,  in  the  conclusion  of  his  book  of  Mor- 
mon, says  if  his  plates  had  been  larger  we  should  have  written  in  Hebrew;  but 
because  of  this  difficulty  he  \vrote  in  the  'Reformed  Eg.ptian,"  being  handed 
down  and  adhered  unto  us  according  to  the  manner  of  our  speech. — p.  538.  'Con- 
demn me  not,'  says  he,  'because  of  mine  imperfections;  neither  my  father,  be- 
cause of  his  imperfections,  neither  them  which  have  written  before  him;  but 
rather  give  thanks  unto  God  that  he  hath  made  manifest  unto  you  your  imper- 
fections, that  you  may  learn  to  be  more  wise  than  we  have  been.' — p.  538.  A 
very  necessary  advice,  indeed!! 

Moroni  writes  the  book  of  Ether,  containing  an  account  of  the  people  of  Ja- 
red,  who  escaped  from  the  building  of  the  tower  of  Babel  unconfounded  in  his 
language.  These  people  of  Jared,  God  marched  before  in  a  cloud,  and  direct- 
ed them  through  the  wilderness,  and  instructed  them  to  build  barges  to  cross 
seas;  and  finally  they  built  eight  barges,  air  tight,  and  were  commanded  to 
make  a  hole  in  the  top  to  admit  air,  and  one  in  the  bottom  to  admit  water, 
and  in  them  weie  put  sixteen  windows  of  molten  stone,  which  when  touched 
by  the  finger  of  Jesus,  became  as  transparent  as  glass,  and  gave  them  light  un- 
der 'the  mountain  waves,'  and  when  above  the  water.  He  that  touched  these 
stones,  appeared  unto  the  brother  of  Jared,  and  said,  behold  I  am  Jesus  Christ, 
1  am  the  father  and  the  son.'  Two  of  these  stones  were  sealed  up  with  the  plates 
and  became  the  spectacles  of  Joseph  Smith,  according  to  a  prediction  uttered 
before  Abraham  was  born.  It  was  also  foretold  in  the  book  of  Ether, 
written  by  Moroni,  that  he  that  should  find  the  plates  should  have  the  privilege 
of  showing  the  plates  unto  those  who  shall  assist  to  bring  forth  this  work,  and 
unto  three  shall  they  be  shown  by  the  power  of  God:  wherefore  they  shall  of 
a  surety  know  that  these  things  are  true. — p.  548. 

And  the  8  barges,  air-tight,  made  like  ducks,  after  swimming  and  diving  344 
days,  arrived  on  the  coasts  of  the  land  of  promise.  The  book  of  Eether  relates 
the  wars  and  carnage  amongst  these  people.  In  the  lapse  of  generations,  they 
counted  two  millions  of  mighty  men,  besides  women  and  children,  slain;  and 
finally,  they  were  all  killed  but  one,  and  he  fell  to  the  earth  as  if  he  had  no 
life.    So  ends  the  book  of  Ether. — p.  573. 

The  book  of  Moroni  details  the  manner  of  ordaining  priests  and  teachers, 
the  manner  of  administering  ordinances,  and  the  epistles  of  Mormon  to  his  son 
Moroni.  Moroni  sealed  up  the  record  A.  D.  420,  and  assures  the  world  that 
spiritual  gifts  shall  never  cease,  only  through  unbelief.  And  when  the  plates 
of  Nephi  shall  be  dup  up  out  of  the  earth,  he  declares  that  men  should  ask 
God  the  Eternal  Father,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  'If  these  things  are  not  true.'  'If 
with  a  sincere  heart  and  real  intent,  having  faith  in  Christ,  such  prayers  are 
made,  ye  shall  know  the  truth  of  all  things.' — p.  586.  The  testimony  of 
Oliver  Cowdery,  David  Whitmer,  and  Martin  Harris,  asserting  that  they  saw  the 
plates,  is  appended.  They  also  testify  that  they  know  that  they  have  been 
translated  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God,  for  his  voice  has  declared  it  unto 
them. 

Another  testimony  is  appended  signed  by  four  Whitmers,  one  Hiram  Page, 
and  three  Smiths,  affirming  that  they  saw  the  plates,  handled  them,  and  that 
Smith  has  got  the  plates  in  his  possession. 

Such  is  an  analysis  of  the  book  of  Mormon,  the  bible  of  the  Mormonites,  For 


r 


Tl 

noticing  of  which  I  would  have  asked  forgiveness  from  all  my  readers,  had 
not  several  hundred  persons  of  different  denominations  believed  in  it.  On  this 
account  alone  has  it  become  necessary  to  notice  it,  and  for  the  same  reason  we 
mu5t  examine  its  pretensions  to  divine  authority;  for  it  purports  to  be  a  revela- 
tion from  God.    And  in  the  first  place,  we  shall  examine  its  internal  evidences. 

INTERNAL   EVIDENCES. 

it  admits  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  to  contain  the  revelations,  in.-^tilution- 
and  commandments  of  God  to  Patriarchs,  Jews,  and  Gentiles,  down  to  the 
year  1830,  and  always,  as  such,  speaks  of  them  and  quotes  them.  This  admis- 
sion at  once  blasts  its  pretensions  to  credibility.  For.  no  man  with  his  eyes 
open  call  a  'mit  both  books  to  have  come  from  Cod..  Admitting  the  bible  n»»\v 
received  to  have  come  from  God,  it  is  impossible  that  the  Book  of  Moimoii 
came  from  the  same  author.    For  the  following  reasons:-- 

1.  Smith,  its  real  author,  as  ignorant  and  as  impu  lent  a  knave  as  ever  wrote 
a  book,  betrays  the  cloven  foot  in  basing  his  whole  book  upon  a  false  fact,  or  a 
pretended  fact,  which  makes  God  a  liar.  It  is  this: — With  the  Jews,  God  made 
a  covenant  at  Mount  Sinai,  and  instituted  a  priesthood  and  a  high  priesthood. 
The  priesthood  he  gave  to  the  tribe  of  Levi,  and  the  high  priesthood  to  Aaron 
and  his  sons  for  an  everlasting  priesthood.  He  separated  Levi.  anJ  covenanted 
to  give  him  this  office  irrevocably  while  ever  the  temple  stood,  or  till  the  Messi- 
ah came.  'Then,  says  God,  Moses  shall  appoint  Aaron  and  his  sons,  and  they 
shall  wait  on  their  priest's  office,  and  the  stranger,  (the  person  of  another  fami- 
ly.) who  Cometh  nigh,  shall  be  put  to  death.'  Numbers  iii.  10.  'And  the  priests, 
the  sons  of  Levi,  shall  come  near;  for  them  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  chosen  to 
minister  unto  him  and  to  bless  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  by  their  word 
shall  every  controversy  and  every  stroke  be  tried.'  Deut.  xxi.  5.  Koah,  Dathan. 
an!  Abiram,  with  250  men  of  renown,  rebelled  against  a  part  of  the  institution 
of  the  priesthood,  and  the  Lord  destroyed  them  in  the  presence  of  the  whole 
congregation.  This  was  to  be  a  memorial  that  no  stranger  invade  any  pa:t  of  the 
office  of  the  priesthood.  Num.  xvi.  40.  Fourteen  thousand  and  seven  hundred 
of  the  people  were  destroyed  by  a  plague  for  murmuring  against  this  memo- 
rial. 

In  the  18th  chapter  of  Numbers  the  Levites  are  again  given  to  Aaron  and  his 
.sons,  and  the  priesthood  confirmed  to  them  with  this  threat — 'The  stranger  thai 
comet'i  nigh  shall  be  put  to  death.'  'Even  Jesus,  says  Paul.  >vere  he  on  earth, 
could  not  be  a  priest,  for  he  was  of  a  tribe  concerning  which  Moses  spake  noth- 
ing of  priesthood."  Heb.  vii,.  13.  So  irrevocable  was  the  grant  of  the  priesthood 
t'  Levi,  an  I  of  the  high  priesthood  to  Aaron,  that  no  stranger  dare  approach  the 
altar  of  God  which  Moses  established.  Hence,  Jesus  himself  was  excluded 
from  officiating  as  priest  on  earth  according  to  the  law. 

This  Joseph  Smith  overlooked  in  his  impious  fraud,  and  makes  his  hero  Lehi 
spring  from  Joseph.  And  just  as  soon  as  his  sons  return  with  the  roll  of  his 
lineage,  ascertaining  that  he  was  of  the  tribe  of  Joseph,  he  and  his  sons  accep- 
tably 'offer  sacrifices  and  burnt  offerings  to  the  Lord.' — p.  15.  Also  it  is  re- 
peated, p.  1&— Nephi  became  chief  aitificer,  ship-builder  and  mariner;  wa.s 
scribe,  prophet,  priest  and  king  unto  his  own  people,  and  'consecrated  Jacob 
and  Joseph,  the  sons  of  his  father,  priests  to  God  and  teachers— almost  six  hun- 
dred years  before  the  fulness  of  the  times  of  the  Jewdsh  economy  was  comple- 
ted.—p.  72.  Nephi  represents  hmiself  withal  as  "under  the  law  of  Moses,'  p.  105. 
They  build  a  tempAe  in  the  new  world,  and  in  55  years  after  they  leave  Jerusa- 
lem,  make  a  new  priesthood  which  God  approbates.  A  high  priest  is  also  con- 
secrated, and  vet  they  are  all  the  while  'teaching  the  law  of  Moses,  and  exhort- 
ing the  people  to  keep  it! — p.  146,  209.  Thus  God  is  represented  as  instituting, 
approbating,and  blessing  a  new  priesthood  from  the  tribe  of  Joseph,  concerning 
which  Moses  gave  no  commandment  concerning  priesthood.  Although  God 
liad  promised  in  the  law  of  Moses,  that  if  any  man.  not  of  the  tribe  and  family 
of  Levi  and  Aaron,  should  approach  the  office  of  priest,  he  would  surely  die; 
he  is   represetned    by   Smith   as   blessing,   approbating,   and   sustaining  another 


12 

family  in  this  appropriated  office.  The  God  of  Abraham  or  Joseph  Smith 
must  then  be  a  liar!!  And  who  will  hesitate  to  pronounce  him  an  impostor? 
This  lie  runs  through  his  records  for  the  first  six  hundred  years  of  his  story. 

2.  This  ignorant  and  impudent  liar,  in  the  next  place,  makes  the  God  of 
Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  violate  his  covenants  wtih  Israel  and  Judah,  con- 
cerning the  land  of  Canaan,  by  promising  a  new  land  to  the  pious  Jew. 

If  a  company  of  reprobate  Jews  had  departed  from  Jerusalem  and  the  tem- 
ple, in  the  days  of  Zedekiah,  and  founded  a  new  colony,  it  would  not  have 
been  so  incongruous.  But  to  represent  God  as  inspiring  a  devout  Jew  and  a 
prophet,  such  as  Levi  and  Nephi  are  represented  by  Smith,  with  a  resolution 
to  forsake  Jerusalem  and  God's  own  house,  and  to  depart  from  the  land  which 
God  swore  to  their  fathers  so  long  as  they  were  obedient;  and  to  guide  by  a 
miracle  and  to  bless  by  prodigies  a  good  man  in  forsaking  God's  covenant 
and  worship — is  so  monstrously  an  error,  that  language  fails  to  afford  a  name 
for  it.  It  is  to  make  God  violate  his  own  covenants,  and  set  at  naught  his  own 
promises,  and  to  convert  his  own  curses  into  blessings.  Excision  from  the 
commonwealth  of  Israel,  and  banishment  from  Jerusalem  and  the  temple, 
were  the  greatest  curses  the  law  of  Moses  knew.  But  Smith  makes  a  good 
and  pious  Jew  the  subject  of  this  curse,  and  sends  him  off  into  the  inhospita- 
ble wilderness,  disinherits  him  in  Canaan,  and  makes  him  more  happy  in  for- 
saking the  institutions  of  Moses,  more  intelligent  in  the  wilderness,  and  more 
prosperous  in  adversity,  than  even  the  Jews  in  their  best  days,  in  the  best  of 
lands,  and  under  the  best  of  all  governments!!!  The  impostor  was  too  igno- 
rant of  the  history  of  the  Jews  and  the  nature  of  the  covenants  of  promise,  to 
have  even  alluded  to  them  in  his  book,  if  he  had  not  supposed  that  he  had  the 
plates  of  Moses  in  his  own  keeping,  as  he  had  his  'molten  plates'  of  Nephi. 
To  separate  a  family  from  the  nation  of  Israel,  was  to  accumulate  all  the  curses 
of  the  law  upon  that  family. — Deut.  xxix.  21. 

3.  He  has  more  of  the  Jews,  living  in  the  new  world,  than  could  have  been 
numbered  any  where  else,  even  in  the  days  of  John  the  Baptist;  and  has  pla- 
ced them  under  a  new  dynasty.  The  sceptre,  with  him,  has  departed  from  Ju- 
dah, and  a  lawgiver  from  among  his  descendants,  hundreds  of  years  before 
Shiloh  came;  and  King  Benjamin  is  a  wiser  and  more  renowned  king  than  king 
Solomon.  He  seems  to  have  gone  upon  an  adage  which  saith,  "the  more  mar- 
vellous, the  more  credible  the  tale,'  and  the  less  of  fact,  and  the  more  of  fic- 
tion, the  more  intelligible  and  reasonable  the  narrative. 

4.  He  represents  the  temple  worship  as  continued  in  his  new  land  of  prom- 
ise contrary  to  every  precept  of  the  law,  and  so  happy  are  the  people  of  Ne- 
phi as  never  to  shed  a  tear  on  account  of  the  excision,  nor  turn  an  eye  toward 
Jerusalem  or  God's  temple.  The  pious  Jews  in  their  captivity  turned  their 
faces  to  Jerusalem  and  the  holy  place  ,and  remembered  God's  promises  con- 
cerning the  place  where  he  recorded  his  name.  They  hung  their  harps  upon 
the  willow,  and  could  not  sing  the  songs  of  Zion  in  a  foreign  land;  but  the  Ne- 
phites  have  not  a  single  wish  for  Jerusalem,  for  they  can,  in  their  wigwam  tem- 
ple, in  the  wilderness  of  America,  enjoy  more  of  God's  presence  than  the  most 
righteous  Jew  could  enjoy  in  that  house  of  which  David  had  rather  be  a  door- 
keeper, than  to  dwell  in  the  tabernacles  of  men.  And  all  this  too,  when  God's 
only  house  of  prayer,  according  to  his  covenant  with  Israel,  stood  in  Jerusa- 
lem. 

5.  Malachi,  the  last  of  the  Jewish  prophets,  commanded  Israel  to  regard  the 
law  of  Moses  till  the  Messiah  came.  And  Moses  commanded  them  to  regard 
him  till  the  Great  Prophet  came.  But  Nephi  and  Smith's  prophets  institute  or- 
dinances and  observances  for  the  Jews,  submersive  of  Moses,  500  years  before 
the  Great  Prophet  came. 

6.  Passing  over  a  hundred  similar  errors,  we  shall  next  notice  his  ignorance 
of  the  New  Testament  matters  and  things.  The  twelve  Apostles  of  the  Lamb, 
are  said  by  Paul,  to  have  developed  certain  secrets,  which  were  hid  for  ages 
and  generations,  which  Paul  says  were  ordained  before  the  world  to  tiieir  glo- 
ry, that  they  should  have  the  honor  of  announcing  them.  But  Smith  makes  his 
pious  hero  Nephi.  600  years  before  the  Messiah  began  to  preach,  anJ  disclose 


13 

these  secretin  concerning  the  calling  oi  the  Gentiles,  and  the  hiessings  tUtwiiii 
through  the  Messiah  to  Jews  and  Gentiles,  which  Paul  says  were  hid  for  a^es 
and  generations,  'which  in  these  ages  was  not  made  known  unto  the  sons'^of 
men  .as  it  is  now  revealed  unto  us  the  holy  Apostles  and  prophets,  by  the  spir- 
it; that  the  Gentiles  should  be  fellow  heirs  and  of  the  same  bodv  and  partakers 
of  his  promise  in  Christ  by  the  Gospel.'  Smith  makes  Nephi  express  everv 
truth  found  in  the  writings  of  the  Apostles  concerning  the  calling  and  blessing 
of  the  Gentiles,  and  even  quotes  the  11th  chapter  of  Romans,  and  many  otheT 
passages  before  he  had  a  son  grown  in  the  wilderness  able  to  aim  an  arrow  at 
a  deer.  Paul  says  these  things  were  secrets  an,l  unknown  until  his  time;  Lut 
Smith  makes  Nephi  say  the  same  things  600  years  before  Paul  was  converted! 
One  of  the  two  is  a  false  prophet.  Mormonites,  take  your  choice! 

7.  'Iliis  prophet  Smith,  through  his  stone  spectacles,  w-otc  on  the  plates  »d" 
Nephi,  in  his  book  of  Mormon,  every  error  and  almost  every  truth  discussed  in 
N.  York  for  the  last  ten  years.  He  decides  all  the  great  controversies— infant 
baptism,  ordination,  the  trinity,  regeneration,  repentance,  justification,  the  fall 
of  man,  the  atonement,  transubstantiation,  fasting,  penance,  church  government, 
religious  experience,  the  call  to  the  ministry,  the  general  resurrection,  eternal 
punishment,  who  may  baptize,  and  even  the  question  of  freemasonry,  republi- 
can government,  and  the  riglils  of  man.  All  these  topics  aie  repeatedly  allu- 
i!ed  to.  How  much  more  benevolent  and  intelligent  this  American  Apostle, 
than  we:e  the  holy  twelve,  and  Paul  to  assist  them!!!  lie  prophesied  of  all 
these  topics,  and  of  the  apostacy,  and  infallibly  decides,  by  his  authority,  ev- 
ery question.  How  easy  to  prophescy  of  the  past  or  of  the  present  time*! 

8.  But  he  is  better  skilled  in  the  controversies  in  New  York  than  in  the 
geography  or  history  of  Judea.  He  makes  John  baptize  in  the  village  of  Deth- 
abara,  (page  22)  and  says  Jesus  was  born  in  Jerusalem,  p.  240.  Gieat  must 
be  the  faith  of  the  -Mormonites  in  this  new  bible!!!  The  mariners  compass 
was  only  known  in  Europe  about  300  years  ago;  but  Nephi  knew  all  about 
steam  boats  and  the  compass  2400  years  ago. 

9.  He  represents  the  christian  institution  as  practised  among  his  Israelite-^ 
before  Jesus  was  bom.  And  his  Jews  are  called  christians  while  keeping  the 
law  of  Moses,  the  holy  sabbath,  and  worshipping  in  their  temple  at  their  altars. 
and  by  their  high  priests. 

10.  But  not  to  honor  him  by  a  too  minute  examination  and  exposition.  1  will 
sum  up  the  whole  of  the  internal  evidence  which  1  deem  worthy  of  remark,  in 
the  following  details: — 

The  book  professes  to  be  written  at  intervals  and  by  ditfeient  pcisons  during 
the  long  period  of  1020  years.  And  yet  for  uniformity  of  style,  there  never  was 
a  book  more  evidently  written  by  one  set  of  fingers,  nor  more  certainly  conceiv- 
ed in  one  cranium  since  the  first  book  appealed  in  human  language,  than  this 
same  book.  If  f  could  swear  to  any  man's  voice,  face  or  person,  assuming  dif- 
ferent names,  1  could  swear  that  this  book  was  written  by  one  man.  And  as 
Joseph  Smith  is  a  very  ignorant  man  and  is  called  the  author  on  the  title  page. 
1  cannot  doubt  for  a  single  moment  that  he  is  the  sole  author  and  proprietor  of 
it.  As  a  specimen  of  his  style  the  reader  will  take  the  following  samples — Page 
4th.  In  his  own  preface: — 'The  plates  of  which  hath  been  spoken.'  In  the 
last  page,  'the  plates  of  which  hath  been  spoken.'  In  the  certificate  signed  by 
Gowdery  and  his  two  witnesses,  he  has  the  same  idiom,  'which  came  from  the 
tower  of  which  hath  been  spoken:'  page  16,  'we  are  a  descendant  of  Joseph.' 
'The  virgin  which  thou  seest  is  the  mother  of  God.'  'Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God  the  eternal  Father,'  p.  25;  'Ye  are  like  unto  them,'  'and  I  saith  unto  them,' 
p.  44.  'We  did  arrive  to  the  promised  land;'  p.  49,  'made  mention  upon  the 
first  plate,'  p.  50. 

Nephi  2400  years  ago  hears  the  saying  of  a  Pagan  who  lived  634  years  after 
him — 'The  God  of  nature  suffers,'  p.  51.  'The  righteous  need  not  fear,  for  it 
is  they  which  shall  not  be  confounded."  p.  58.  Shakespeare  was  read  by  Ne- 
l)hi  2200  years  before  he  was  born —'The  silent  grave  from  whence 
j»o  traveller  returns,  61.  'Your  own  eternal  welfare'  was  a  phrase  then  com- 
mon  in   America,   p.   62.   'Salvation    is   free"   was   then   announced.   'That   Jesus 


14 

should  rise  fiom  the  dead*  was  repeatetUy  declared  on  this  continent  in  the  reign 
of  Nebuchadnezzar.  And  at  the  same  time  it  was  said,  'Messiah  cometh  in 
the  fuhiess  of  time  that  he  might  redeem  the  children  of  men  from  the  fall;"  p. 
65.  'The  fair  was  frequently  spoken  of  at  the  Isthmus  of  Darien  2400  years 
ago. 

I  had  no  object,  says  Nephl,  in  the  reign  of  Zedekiah,  'but  the  everlasting 
salvation  of  your  souls.'  66.  'I  had  spake  many  things,'  'for  a  more  history 
part  are  written  upon  mine  other  plates.'  69.  'Do  not  anger  again  because  of 
mine  enimies,'  p.70.  'For  it  behoveth  the  Great  Creator  that  he  die  for  all 
men,'  'It  must  needs  be  an  infinite  atonement.'  'This  flesh  must  go  to  its 
mother  earth.'  "And  this  death  must  deliver  up  its  dead.'  p.  70.  were  common 
phrases  2300  years  ago— 'for  the  atonement  satisfieth  the  demands  of  his  justice 
upon  all  those  who  have  not  the  law  given  them,'  p.  81.  The  Calvinists  were 
in  America  before  Nephi.  'The  Lord  remembereth  all  they,'  85.  The  atone- 
ment is  infinite  for  all  mankind,'  p.  104.  The  Americans  knew  this  on  the 
Columbo  2400  years  ago.  'His  name  shall  be  called  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of 
God.'  An  angel  told  this  to  Nephi  545  years  before  it  was  told  to  Mary,  p.l05. 
'And  they  shall  teach  with  their  learning  and  deny  the  Holy  Ghost  which  giveth 
them  utterance;'  this  prophecy  was  at  that  time  delivered  against  us,  p.  112. 
'My  words  shall  hiss  forth  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth,'  p.  115.  '\^'herein  did 
the  Lamb  of  God  fill  all  righteousness  in  being  baptised  by  water,'  118.  This 
question  was  discussed  2300  years  ago.  'The  baptism  by  fire  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  was  preached  in  the  days  of  Cyrus.'  p.  119.  "The  only  true  doctrine  of 
the  Father  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  one  God  without  en  !. 
AmeYi,'  p.  120.  This  was  decided  in  the  time  of  Daniel  the  Prophet.  '1  glory 
in  plainness,'  says  Nephi.  'Christ  will  show  you  that  these  are  his  words  in 
the  last  day,'  p.  122.  Too  late  to  prove  your  mission,  Mr.  Nephi! 

'After  that  ye  have  obtained  a  hope  in  Christ,  ye  shall  obtain  riches  if  you 
seek  them.'  So  spoke  Jacob  in  the  days  of  Ezekiel  the  Prophet.  'They  be- 
lieve in  Christ  and  worshipped  the  Father  in  his  name,'  p.  129.  This  was 
said  by  Jacob  in  the  time  of  Daniel.  'Do  as  ye  hath  hitherto  done,'  says  Mo- 
siah,  page  158.  These  Smithisms  are  in  every  page.  'And  his  mother  shall 
be  called  .Mary."  p.  160.  "The  Son  of  God  and  Father  of  heaven  and  earth."  p. 
161.  'The  infant  perisheth  not,  that  dieth  in  his  infancy.'  'For  the  natural 
man  is  an  enemy  of  God  and  was  from  the  fall  of  Adam,  and  will  b«i  forever  and 
ever,'  p.  161  This  was  spoken  by  King  Benjamin  124  years  before  Christ.  He 
was  a  Yankee,  too.  for  he  spoke  like  Smith,  saying.  'I  wha  ye  call  your  king.' 
'They  saith  unto  the  king.'  p.  182.  This  was  another  Joseph  Smith  called  Mo- 
siah.  "They  were  baptised  in  the  waters  of  Mormon,  and  were  called  the 
church  of  Christ,'  p.  192.  This  happened  100  years  before  Christ  was  bom. 
'Alma,  why  persecuteth  thou  the  church  of  God.'  p.  222.  'Ye  must  be  born 
again;  yea,  born  of  God — changed  from  their  carnal  and  fallen  state  to  a  state 
of  lighteousness.'  214.  This  was  preached  also  100' years  before  Christ  was 
born.  'These  things  had  not  ought  "to  be,'  220.       '      - 

'I.  Alma,  being  consecrated  by  my  father  Alma  to  be  a  high  priest  over  the 
church  of  Cod.  he  having  power  and  authority  from  God  to  do  these  things  (p. 
232  >  say  unto  you,  except  ye  repent  ye  can  in  no  wise  enter  into  the  Kingdom 
of  Heaven."  237.  'He  ordaineth  priests  and  elders,  by  laying  on  his  hands,  to 
watch  over  the  church' — 'Not  so  much  as  a  hair  of  the  head  shall  be  lost  in  the 
grave' — 'The  holy  order  of  the  high  priesthood,'  p.  250.  The  high  priesthood 
of  Alma  was  about  80  years  before  Christ.  'The  Lord  poured  out  his  spirit 
to  prepare  the  minds  of  the  people  for  the  preaching  of  Alma,  preaching  repen- 
tance,' p.  268.  Alma  was  a  Yankee  of  Smith's  school,  for  he  saith:  *The  light 
of  everlasling  light   was  lit   up  in  his  soul."  p.  47. 

During  the  pontificate  of  Alma  men  prayed  thus;  'If  there  is  a  God,  and  if 
thou  art  God  wilt  thou  make  thyself  known  unto  me.'  p.  286.  Alma  'clapped 
his  hands  upon  all  they  which  were  with  him.'  p.  313.  'Instiuments  in  the 
hand  of  God  were  the  jjreachers  of  Alma."  i).  323.  Modest  and  orthodox  men. 
truly!!  'If  ye  deny  the  Holy  Ghost  when  it  once  hath  place  in  you,  and  ye 
know   that   \e   deny,   behold   this   is   the   unpardonable   sin."   p.   332.     So   Alma 


15 

preached.  'And  now  my  son,  ye  are  called  of  God  to  preach  the  Gospel.'  p. 
340.  'They  were  high  priests  over  the  church,  p.  350.  'The  twenty  and  sec- 
ond year  of  the  Judges  this  came  to  pass.'  p.  364.  'They  were  valiant  for 
courage.'  p.  376. 

These  are  as  but  one  drop  out  of  a  bucket  compared  with  the  amount  of 
Smithisms  in  this  book.  It  is  patched  up  and  cemented  with  'And  it  came  to 
pass' — 'I  sayeth  unto  you' — 'Ye  saith  unto  him.' — and  all  the  King  James' 
haths,  dids  and  doths — in  the  lowest  imitation  of  the  common  version;  and  is, 
without  exaggeration,  the  meanest  book  in  the  English  language;  but  it  is 
a  translation  made  throu  h  stone  spectacles,  in  a  dark  room,  and  in  the  hat  of 
the  prophet  Smith,  from  the  reformed  Egyptian!!  It  has  not  one  good  sen- 
tence in  it,  save  the  profanation  of  those  sentences  quoted  from  the  Oracles  of 
the  living  God. ;  I  would  as  soon  compare  a  bat  to  the  American  eagle,  a  mouse 
to  a  mammoth,  or  the  deformities  of  a  spectre  to  the  beauties  of  Him  whom 
John  saw  in  Patmos,  as  to  contrast  it  with  a  single  chapter  in  all  the  writings 
of  the  Jewish  or  Christian  prophets.  It  is  as  certainly  Smith's  fabrication  as 
Satan  is  the  father  of  lies,  or  darkness  the  offspring  of  night.  \  So  much  for  the 
internal  evidences  of  the  Book  of  Mormon. 

Its  external  evidences  are,  first,  the  testimony  of  the  prophets  Cowdery,  Whit- 
mer  and  Harris;  who  saw  the  plates  and  heard  the  voice  of  God;  who  are  dis- 
interested retailers  of  the  books.  I  would  ask  them  how  they  knew  that  it  was 
God's  voice  which  they  heard — but  they  would  tell  me  to  ask  God  in  faith. 
That  is^  l_must  believe  i^  first,  and  then  ask  God  if.Jl  be  true]  'Tis  better  to 
take  Nephi's  proof  which  is  promised  us  in  the  day  of  final  judgment!  They 
say  that  spiritual  gifts  are  to  be  continued  to  the  end  of  time  among  the  true 
believers.  They  are  true  believers — have  they  wrought  any  miracles?  They  have 
tried,  but  their  faith  failed.  Can  they  show  any  spiritual  gift?  Yes,  they  can 
mutter  Indian  and   traffic   in  new  Bibles. 

'But  Smith  is  the  wonder  of  the  world.'  So  was  the  Apocalyptic  beast!  'an 
ignorant  young  man.'  That  needs  no  proof.  Gulliver's  travels  is  a  heroic  po- 
em in  comparison  of  this  book  of  Smith.  'But  he  cannot  write  a  page.'  Nei- 
ther could  Mahomet,  who  gave  forth  the  Alcoran.  'Smith  is  an  honest  looking 
fellow.'  So  was  Simon  Magus,  the  sorcerer..  'But  he  was  inspired.'  So  was 
Judas,  by  Satan. 

Its  external  evidences  are  also  the  subscriptions  of  four  Whitmers,  three 
Smiths;  and  one  Page,  the  relatives  and  connexions  of  Joseph  Smtih,  junior. 
And  these  'men  handled  as  many  of  the  brazen  or  golden  leaves  as  the  said 
Smith  translated.'  So  did  I.  But  Smith  has  got  the  plates  of  which  hath  been 
spoken.  Let  him  show  them.  Their  certificate  proves  nothing,  save  that 
Smith  wrote  it,  and  they  signed  it.  But  Smtih  gives  testimony  himself.  There 
is  one  who  says,  'If  I  bear  testimony  of  myself,  my  testimony  ought  not  to  be 
regarded,' 

If  this  prophet  and  his  three  prophetic  witnesses  had  aught  of  speciosity 
about  them  or  their  book,  we  would  have  examined  it  and  exposed  it  in  a  dif- 
ferent manner.  I  have  never  felt  myself  so  fully  authorized  to  address  mortal 
man  in  the  style  in  which  Paul  addressed  Elymas  the  sorcerer  as  I  feel  towards 
this  Atheist  Smith.  His  three  witnesses,  I  am  credibly  informed,  on  one  of 
their  horse-swapping  and  prophetic  excursions  in  the  Sandusky  country,  hav- 
ing bartered  horses  three  times  for  once  preaching,  represented  Walter  Scott 
and  myself  as  employed  in  translating  these  plates,  and  as  believers  in  the  book 
of  Mormon.  If  there  was  anything  plausible  about  Smith,  I  would  say  to  those 
who  believe  him  to  be  a  prophet,  hear  the  question  which  Moses  put  into  the 
mouth  of  the  Jews,  and  his  answer  to  it— 'And  if  thou  say  in  thine  heaTt,How 
shall  we  know  the  word  which  the  Lord  hath  not  spoken?'— Does  he  answer, 
'Ask  the  Lord  and  he  will  tell  you?'— Does  he  say,  'Wait  till  the  day  of  judg- 
ment and  you  will  know?'  Nay,  indeed;  but — 'When  a  propheth  speaketh  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  if  the  thing  follow  not  nor  come  to  pass,  that  is  the  thing 
which  the  Lord  hath  not  spoken;  the  prophet  hath  spoken  it  presumptuously: 
thou  shah  not  be  afraid  of  him.'  Deut.  xviii.  3.  Smith  has  failed  in  every  in- 
stance to  verify  one  of  his  own  sayings.  Again,  I  would  say  in  the  words  of  the 


16 

Lord  by  Isaiah,  'Bring  forth  your  strong  reasons,  saith  the  King  of  Jacob:  let 
them  bring  them  forth  and  show  us  what  shall  happen:  let  them  show  the 
former  things  what  they  mean,  that  we  may  consider  them,  and  know  the  latter 
end  of  them—  show  the  things  which  are  to  come  hereafter,  that  we  may  know 
that  you  are  prophets:  yea,  do  good  or  do  evil,  that  we  may  be  dismaved  and 
behold  it  together.  Behold  you  are  nothing,  and  your  work  of  nauglit:  an  abom- 
ination is  every  one  that  chooseth  you.'  Is.  xli.  21 — 23. 

Let  the  children  of  Mormon  ponder  well,  if  yet  reason  remains  with  them.,  the 
following  passage  from  Isaiah  44;  and  if  they  cannot  see  the  analogy  between 
themselves  and  the  sons  of  ancient  imposture,  then  reason  is  of  as  little  use  to 
them  as  it  was  to  those  of  whom  the  propeht  spake — 

'The  carpenters  having  chosen  a  piece  of  wood  framed  it  by  rule  and  glued 
the  parts  together,  and  made  it  in  the  foim  of  a  man,  and  with  the  comeliness 
of  a  man,  to  set  it  in  a  house.  He  cut  wood  from  the  forest  which  the  Lord 
planted — a  pine  tree,  which  the  rain  ha  1  nourished,  that  it  might  be  fuel  for  the 
use  of  man;  and  baving  taken  seme  of  it  be  wavme  I  himself;  au<!  wtih  nther 
pieces  tliey  made  a  fire  and  baked  cakes,  and  of  the  residue  they  made  goJs  and 
worshipped  them.  Did  he  not  burn  half  of  it  in  the  fire,  and,  with  tiie  c^  ais  of 
that  half  bake  cakes:  and  having  roasted  meat  with  it  di !  he  not  eat  and  was 
satisfied;  and  when  warmed  say  "Aha!  I  am  warmed.  I  have  enjoyed  the  fire?" 
Yet  of  the  residue  he  made  a  carved  god,  and  worshipped  it.  and  prayeth  to  it, 
saying,  "Deliver  me,  for  thou  art  my  God'.'* 

'They  had  not  sense  to  think;  for  they  were  so  involved  in  darkness  that 
they  could  not  see  witli  their  eyes,  nor  understand  with  their  hearts:  nor  '.'id 
any  reason  in  his  mind,  nor  by  his  understanding  recollect,  that  he  had  burned 
half  of  it  in  the  fire,  and  on  the  coals  thereof  baked  cakes,  and  had  roasted 
flesh  and  eaten,  and  of  the  residue  had  made  an  abomination;  so  they  bow 
themselves  down  to  it.  Know  thou  that  their  heart  is  ashes,  and  they  are  led 
astray  and  none  can  deliver  his  soul.  Take  a  view  of  it,  will  you  not  say,  "There 
is  indeed  a  lie  in  my  right  hand?"' 

'Remember  these  things.  0  Jacob,  even  thou  Israel,  for  thou  art  my  ser- 
vant. I  have  made  thee  my  servant;  therefore  O  Israel  do  not  thou  forget  me. 
For,  lo!  I  have  made  thy  transgressions  vanish  like  a  cloud — and  thy  sins  like 
the  murky  vapor.  Return  to  me.  and  I  will  redeem  thee.' 

A.  CAMPBELL. 

February  10,  1831. 


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